John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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460. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on the establishment of a Nature Advisory Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6174/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategic Action Plan for the Renewal of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 2022-2024, approved by Government in May 2022, committed to establishing a Stakeholder Forum. No such commitments were made to establish a Nature Advisory Council and in that regard, the Government has no plans to establish one. An Independent Advisory Committee to guide the drafting of the Nature Restoration Plan to comply with the Nature Restoration Regulation has been established as has The Sustainable Hunting of WildBirds Stakeholder Forum. and there are also significant public consultations completed on the Wildlife Acts and Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara and further public consultations are in planning.

The NPWS is committed to strengthening its engagement with all stakeholders, in line with a commitment in its Strategic Plan 2023-2025 to "enhance engagement with all stakeholders including the scheduling of regular conferences, seminars, workshops and so forth".

The Sustainable Hunting of Wild Birds Stakeholder Forum was established in 2024 and has met on several occasions, and comprises a wide range of stakeholders. The NPWS of my Department has committed to establishing a wider Stakeholder Forum and work is ongoing at this time to deliver on this commitment. Membership of the forum will be open to national level organisations that are involved in issues that are within the remit of the NPWS.